EUREKA BAPTIST CHURCH NEWSLETTER

EUREKA BAPTIST CHURCH

NEWSLETTER

May 2019

Happy

Valentine’s

Day! Wednesday,

February 14th

Quarterly

Business Meeting

Sunday

May 5

After Morning Service

Brunch Following

Mother’s Day

Sunday

May 12

Memorial Day

Monday

May 27

Sunday

A Note from Pastor Seth

People often ask the question what is the

meaning of life? The Bible gives the clear

answer. The answer is to know the true God

and the One whom he has sent, Jesus Christ

(John 17:3). The writers of the Westminster

Catechism, published in 1649, got it right:

“The chief aim of man is to glorify God and

to enjoy him forever.” But that is asking the

meaning of life question from our human

perspective. What if we ask it the other way

around: why did God create the world? I am

going set out to answer that in this pastor’s

page. What the Bible teaches is that the one

true God of the universe is three: Father,

Son, and Holy Spirit. Each person of the

trinity fully has all the attributes of God.

They are entirely equal in deity and hold a

unity that surpasses our understanding. The

Bible teaches that each of these persons was

fully satisfied with the fellowship they had

with each other in eternity past (John 17:5).

The Father loved the Son, the Son loved the

Father, and the Spirit was (and always is)

the love between them. In Scripture, Jesus

mentions the glory he had with the Father

before the world existed (John 17:5). God is

also referred to us the blessed or happy God

(1 Timothy 1:11). Furthermore, the Bible

teaches that God is infinite in his being

(Romans 11:33). What that means is that he

has no limits. He is perfect in every way

and therefore he has no needs. So clearly,

God did not create the universe and

specifically humans because he was lonely

so that he would fill emptiness inside. But

rather God was fully satisfied in himself as

the Triune God worshiped and adored one

another.

So then why did God create the universe, and

specifically humans? The Lord said through

the prophet Isaiah concerning mankind that

they were “created for my glory, whom I

formed and made” (Isaiah 43:7). So the

reason that God created the universe was to

have creatures that would glorify him for his

greatness. This gives us a clue as to what

glory means. We know that Scripture teaches

that God is great. The Psalmist wrote, “Great

is the Lord and greatly to be praised” (Psalm

48:1). So when we are talking about glory we

are not talking about God’s greatness in his

attributes, but the praise of his attributes.

Glory is the honor that he is due for who he

is, and this leads us to praise and delight in

him. In America we have a majestic

mountain range known as the Rocky

Mountains. Someone may say that the Rocky

Mountains cascade over Denver in all of its

glory. What this means is that people talk

glowingly about these mountains because of

their majestic beauty. The Being who

deserves all the praise, honor, and glory is

the greatest of all, our Great God and

Creator. Therefore, God created humans to

glorify his majestic name.

Now that we know what glory is

and that God created humans to praise him

for his greatness. We need to once again ask

the question why did God do this if he was

fully happy in eternity past? The answer to

this comes from John 17. In this passage

Jesus is praying to his Father before he goes

to the cross. He talks to his Father about the

relationship he has with Him and the

relationship that God’s people are invited to

enter. Jesus explains in this prayer that God’s

purpose for mankind is to know God,

enjoying this sweet fellowship with him

forever (John 17:3). What Jesus prays is “that

they may all be one, just as you, Father, are

in me, and I in you, that they also may be in

us” (John 17:21). Then he prays, “the glory

that you have given me I have given them,

that they may be one even as we are one”

(John 17:22). The glory that God had even

before there was a creation Jesus says he

wants the people created in his image to join

this fellowship. Jesus desires that these

people will be preserved into future glory in

heaven. So he prays,

Eureka Baptist Church 2393 210th Avenue

St. Croix Falls, WI 54024 715-483-9464

www.eurekabapchurch.com

Sunday Morning Service: 10:00am *Kid's Church during Service Adult Sunday School: 9:00am

Bible Study: Wednesdays 6:30pm

“Father, I desire that they also, whom you

have given me, may be with me where I am,

to see my glory that you have given me

because you loved me before the foundation

of the world” (John 17:24). Jesus desires for

those redeemed by his blood to see him in all

of his glory as he sits at the right hand of the

Father. In this prayer Jesus longs that his

people would see the glory that he had with

the Father and the Holy Spirit when nothing

but them existed. This is truly amazing!

So to answer the question why did

God create if he was fully happy in himself?

The answer is that he created creatures that

would join the fellowship of the trinity. Not

because he needed to be filled, but because

their love for one another was so full that the

trinity decided to overflow their love by

creating creatures to join their love. He

desired to communicate the fullness of his

glory to the world he created. It is truly

incredible that we as believers get to share in

this eternal fellowship with the trinity. It

starts now in this life as we seek to know God

more as we fight our sin and reflect him

more. But our fellowship with the triune God

will move to a new level in the age to come

when we will be without sin and be able to

enjoy fellowship with him in purity (1

Corinthians 13:12; Revelation 21:27). In this

forever fellowship with the Father, Son, and

Spirit God will always be glorified, while we

will always have fullness of joy (Psalm

16:11). What wonderful God we worship!

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Seth

Dan & Esther Penney: Senegal

Even in the US we all know the value of a reliable mechanic. But here in Senegal, a well-trained mechanic is harder to find than

teeth on a chicken! Combine that with the fact that national unemployment runs close to 50%, and you have the perfect ministry

opportunity. One of our colleagues does what is typically called “vocational ministry,” but the reality is both a lot more exciting

and a lot more challenging than that makes it sound.

Bo is a gifted mechanic with years of training and experience. In the US he managed the maintenance of entire fleets of big rig

trucks. Now he spends his days sharing that expertise with about 10 young Senegalese men who are unlikely to find a way to

make a living if they don’t pay attention in his class. And rubbing shoulders with them day after day while working on vehicles

gives him the perfect opportunity to speak into their lives. They gradually realize that his gruff love is their lifeline—to a

vocation, yes, but even more to a possible faith that brings forgiveness of sin and freedom from spiritual oppression. Only one

has made that step so far, but one or two others are beginning to understand. And none of them has a ghost of a chance if not for

Bo taking an interest in them and investing in their futures.

Pray for Bo and his mechanic school. The course is offered in partnership with a local vocational school for underprivileged

Senegalese. The mayor of one of the suburbs of Dakar provides facilities and utilities, but the school itself is independent. The

challenges are enormous: lack of financial resources, lack of cooperation from certain local officials, struggles to get legal access

to vehicle information, resistance from local car dealerships, and frustrations with students who cannot seem to understand that

what they put into the class will determine what they get out of it and therefore their future welfare.

But the potential pay-off is also enormous. Imagine these young men in 10 or 20 years, skilled in an in-demand profession that

can not only provide their livelihood, but if they come to faith in Christ, can tithe to their churches which can then do ministry

that otherwise would never happen for lack of local resources. And who knows what impact these young men themselves may

have on others. It’s a domino effect of impact on society for the glory of Jesus Christ.

Good Friday Service

Monthly Events

Women’s Bible Study

Saturday, May 4

9:00am

Men’s Breakfast

Saturday, May 11

8:00am

Women’s Friday

Morning Bible Study

2nd & 4th Friday of the

Month

9:30am at Joyful

Morning Coffee House

in Dresser

Weekly Events

Adult Sunday School

Sunday Mornings

9:00am

Morning Service

Sunday Mornings

10:00am

Kids Church

Sunday mornings during

Morning Service

March

Kid’s

Night

Bible Study

Wednesdays

6:30pm

Easter Service

For God so loved the world, that

he gave his only Son, that

whoever believes in him should

not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

Happy Birthday!!

Kris Felber, 5/4

Annabelle Hall, 5/24

Happy Anniversary!!

Jeremiah & Shaila Johnson,

5/20

Do we have your birthday and

anniversary? We’d love to pray for you on

your special day! Please email your

information to Amber!

[email protected]

2019 Board Members

Deacons

Shaun Anderson

Gordon Trombley

Elders

Mark Brooks

Rob Mickelson

Trustees

Randy Clark

Shaun Anderson

Deaconess

Barbara Trombley

Amber Lindo

Hansi Stridde

Abby Swanson

Secretary

Amber Lindo

Treasurers

Hansi Stridde

Abby Swanson

Church Announcements

-Quarterly Business Meeting – May 5th

-Interested in becoming a member? Talk with Pastor Seth!

-Church Teams are in the process of meeting. Please attend a meeting if you’d like

to join a team. The schedule is on the bulletin board at church.

-Wednesday night Bible Study will wrap up at the end of May. It’s not to late to

join us!

-If you’re interested in helping with the lawn care over the summer, please talk with

Shaun Anderson.

FUNd Raiser for

Chapel Repairs

Skonewood Christian Retreat

2104 260th Ave, Cushing

May 18, 2019 - Event starts at Noon

Music by Glory Train, Highview

Bluegrass, Sons of the St. Croix &

Everett "Howie" Atherton as Elvis.

Food served till 4, Bake Sale, Silent

Auction, Thrift Sale and more.

Bring your lawn chairs, this is an

outdoor event for the whole family.

Sunday Musical Services - Summer 2019

6:30pm Sunday Evenings

Congregational hymn sing beginning at 6:15 with Ann Bell at the

piano. Special Presentations at 6:30pm.

Freewill offering taken to help defray costs for Musical

Entertainment Groups.

Sunday night services run from Memorial Weekend thru Labor

Day Weekend

June 2 - King's Countrymen

June 9 - Paul Family

June 16 - Mike, Becca, & Mary

June 23 - Glory Train

June 30 - Blessing Trio

July 7 - The Stringsmith

July 14 - Son's of the St Croix

July 21 - Schimpp's

July 28 - Highview Bluegrass

Aug 4 - Mystery Mountain Boys

Aug 11 - Northern Pines

Aug 18 - John & Kate

Aug 25 - Solid Rock Quartet

Sept 1 - Garm's Family

The Outhouse

I was trapped in an outhouse last Sunday and I thought of

Heaven.

Allow me to explain.

This winter Gordy built an outhouse for me near the writing

cabin I have in the woods. Inside, the outhouse is rustic but

sufficient. It has a latch to hold the door shut when it is not in

use. I simply turn the latch to release the door to gain entry.

Last Sunday while I was sitting in the outhouse, the latch,

quite on its own, turned 90 degrees, effectively locking me in.

Try as I might, I could not get out. The piece of wood did not

budge no matter how hard I rattled, kicked, or thumped. I

searched in vain for a slim object to stick in the crack between

the door and the wall, thinking I might push the latch out of

the way. Nothing. I had not brought any communication

device with me—except for my voice.

“Help!” I hollered.

I was a quarter of a mile from the house in the middle of our

private woods. Who would possibly hear my cry? My husband

typically does not disturb me when I am writing, although I

reckoned that eventually he would seek me out.

As I sat in confinement, I wondered if the difference

between being trapped in an outhouse and being free in the

wide, wide world was in any way comparable to the difference

between life on this earth and eternal life in heaven. I

wondered if some day we would realize how confining and

limiting this life has been compared to eternity, which has no

bounds. Another analogy occurred to me: Just as we cannot

save ourselves from eternal separation from Jesus, (See Acts

4:12) I could not save myself--I needed a rescuer.

“HELP!”

All I could do is lift my voice and hope.

Fortunately, on this particular Sunday, we were dog-sitting.

Fortunately, Gordy decided to take the dog for a walk right

about then, and fortunately, he decided to walk him in the

woods.

And fortunately for me, he heard my cries.

And he ran to my rescue, worried that I was in trouble,

worried that I was having a heart attack. To his relief, I was

fine. Embarrassed, but fine.

Fortunately for us all, there is One who hears our cries.

And He runs to rescues us.

“I call with all my heart; answer me, O Lord.”

Psalm 119:145

Submitted by Barbara Trombley

LOREM IPSUM DOLOR

LOREM IPSUM DOLOR

Eureka Baptist Church 2393 210th Avenue St. Croix Falls, WI 54024

LOREM IPSUM DOLIR SIAIM ETTETURENI DUNT

NEWSLETTE

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